clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Utah Jazz 101 New Orleans Pelicans 87 - Jeff Withey revenge game shuts down Anthony Davis

No Favors? No problem!

By AllThatAmar
Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports

The Utah Jazz (8-7) defeated the New Orleans Pelicans (4-13) 101-87 tonight. Utah led 23-16 after one, and then extended the lead to a new blowout situation in the second, before New Orleans fought back to make it a much closer game than it should have been. Utah pushed again in the third, but as we all know, the NBA game is a game of runs. New Orleans broke it down to under 10 late in the fourth quarter, but the good guys got it done. The Jazz were without Derrick Favors and Dante Exum. It's never easy to win without two starters, but the young Jazz were rested and at home. New Orleans was still without Tyreke Evans, Norris Cole, Kendrick Perkins, and others, while Jrue Holiday was on a minutes restriction. They are hurt. They are tired. They were on the last game of a second-game-in-two-nights, and third-game-in-four-nights situation.

But unlike 29 other teams in the league, they had Anthony Davis. And man, the Jazz got to see a lot of him (44 minutes worth). Davis was a beast early on in the game, and really carried them for long stretches. He would finish with 26 points, 11 rebounds, 3 blocks, 2 steals, and 1 assist. He did have some pretty crucial turn overs in the fourth, thanks to the inspired play of Trevor Booker. Booker got the start in place of Derrick Favors (family situation), and he responded with 13 points, 15 rebounds, 3 blocks, 3 assists, and 2 steals. Aside from the 20 extra points, I'd say that Booker did more than enough to counter what Davis brought to the table.

I got home in time to watch the last six minutes of this exciting Utah Jazz game. And I got to see my guy Alec Burks help take the Jazz cross the end zone and win this game. Alec made a driving dunk to put the Jazz up 12.

On the next Jazz offensive play he assisted on a Gordon Hayward three pointer. On the next play he lost the ball, and Ish Smith scored to make it a 8 point lead. After a few minutes of no Jazz scoring outside of two Rodney Hood free throws Alec worked the clock down to 1:42 and drilled a turn around jumper from midrange to put the good guys up by 13. About a minute later he stroked a three to keep the margin 12. Rodney Hood iced the game with an oop to Rudy Gobert for the final score of 101-87.

I missed 42 minutes of this game, so obviously my recap is incomplete and from a very biased point of view. It was still a solid win without the Jazz' best player (Favors); however, everyone chipped in. Rudy missed out on another double double, but did manage 4 blocks. Gordon Hayward finished with 17 points, though his shot wasn't falling. Rodney Hood was huge, with 16 and 4 assists, but similarly wasn't making a lot shots. Trey Burke came off the bench to hit .500 of his shots, including 2 threes. Joe Ingles made three three pointers. Trey Lyles finished with 4 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 block. Even Jeff Withey got in, busted his butt, and finished with 3 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 block, and 1 assist in seven solid minutes in his "revenge game" against his old club.

No Favors had me worried, but this team is good, they are well coached, and just love being out there together.

New Orleans went to the line, on the road, 30 times to the Jazz' 21. Utah made up for it by making the Pellies shoot 42.0 FG% and 29.4 3pt%. Part of that is a long road trip. Part of that is the Jazz defense. Solid win, can't wait to watch the entire game.

The Jazz have tomorrow off, and then host the undefeated Golden State Warriors on the 30th. Woo!

More From SLC Dunk